Seattle Seahawks

, Seattle (PressExposure) May 05, 2009 -- The Seattle Seahawks are an NFL franchise that represents the NFC West division. The team had previously played in the AFC, but was moved in 2002 as a part of the realignment of the divisions in the NFL. The team entered the league in 1976 and has enjoyed a considerable amount of success since their entry into the NFL. In fact, they are the only team to have played in both the AFC and NFC Championship games.

Although the team was successful in the AFC led by players such as, Steve Largent, Dave Krieg, and Steve Broussard, the team did not become one of the elite franchises in the league until their move to the NFC in 2002. They have dominated the NFC West Division winning the division title in four of the seven years that they have played there and winning the wild card one year. So they have played in the playoffs in five out of the seven years that they have been in the NFC.

The team has been led by quarterback Matt Hasselback since starting play in the NFC. It can be argued that Hasselback is the best quarterback to ever play for the Seahawks setting numerous franchise records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passing efficiency. The team was also led by running back Shaun Alexander who set a then record with 28 touchdowns in the 2005 season and was a perennial All-Pro during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.

The team's best season in the NFC came in 2005 when they went a league best 13-3 and earned the Number one seed in the NFC and home-field advantage for the entire NFC playoffs. The team was represented by five All-Pro players; Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselback, Steve Hutchinson, Walter Jones, and Mack Strong. Alexander also won the MVP by rushing for 1880 yards and 28 touchdowns during the season. He was a unanimous selection due to the way he dominated all teams throughout the year.

The team would get all the way to Super Bowl XL where they would play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team was overmatched from beginning to end and never really had a chance to win the game. They would end up losing to the Steelers 21-10; however the game was not as close as the score might indicate. However, the team had passed through one hurdle and that was getting to the Super Bowl.

The team is also well known for having some of the loudest fans in all of football and they have actually retired the number twelve in honor of the fans that are named the 12th man. The number was retired in 1984 and the Seahawks actually sell jerseys with the number twelve on the back with the name fan above that. The team makes a huge difference for the team in home games, and they have gone undefeated at home numerous times due to the noise that the fans make to psyche the other team out.